715 Projects Totaling 201.5 GW of Capacity
On August 3, 2026, PJM Interconnection, the operator of the PJM grid, announced the latest screening results, selecting 715 power projects from an initial 811 applications for further review. These projects, spanning 13 states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, as well as the District of Columbia, serve a population of approximately 67 million. Jason Connell, PJM’s Vice President of Planning, stated that the new review process aims to prioritize projects that are "actually buildable" to meet growing electricity demand over the next decade.
PJM estimates that electricity demand will increase by 70 GW over the next 10 years, driven primarily by data centers and large industrial users. However, the 715 projects under review total 201.5 GW of capacity, far exceeding projected demand, indicating that only a portion of these projects will ultimately be approved. PJM also noted that 51 GW of generation projects with signed agreements are either stalled or delayed due to permitting and supply chain issues, highlighting the multiple challenges facing power project development.
Energy Storage Leads in Proposals, Natural Gas Dominates Capacity
Among the 715 projects, energy storage leads with 314 proposals, followed by natural gas (147), solar (117), and wind (61). However, when measured by capacity, natural gas projects account for 98 GW, nearly half of the total capacity, significantly outpacing other energy types. While the combined capacity of solar and energy storage projects falls short of natural gas, their combined proposal count of 431 indicates that small and medium-sized renewable energy projects dominate the application pool.
Other energy types include nuclear (24 projects), hydropower (5), and a category labeled "other" encompassing biomass, fuel cells, fusion energy, and methane projects (37). PJM emphasized that this screening represents only the initial phase, with final build-out decisions dependent on construction timelines, supply chain conditions, and local regulations. Connell noted that the new process will help identify more feasible projects, though specific review criteria have not been disclosed.
Construction Timelines as a Key Competitive Factor
The construction timelines for different energy types vary significantly. Solar and energy storage projects can typically be completed within 12 to 18 months, whereas combined cycle gas power plants require three years or more. The global gas turbine supply chain currently faces a backlog of approximately five years, further extending the timeline for natural gas projects. Nuclear projects face even longer construction periods and public opposition, making them more difficult to advance.
To expedite the review process, PJM recently adopted the Tapestry AI-enabled tool developed by Google, leveraging data analytics to improve efficiency. However, the specific application and effectiveness of this tool remain unclear. PJM stated that the future energy mix will depend on the construction speed and local acceptance of various project types. As demand from data centers continues to rise, local community opposition to new power facilities is also increasing, potentially further impacting project progress.
Analysts point out that while renewable energy projects lead in proposal numbers, natural gas maintains a capacity advantage. Coupled with limited demand growth, competition among new power projects in the PJM grid is intense. Ultimately, only a subset of projects will secure grid connection agreements and proceed to construction, with the pace and scale of energy transition hinging on coordination among stakeholders and policy support.
